Retrievals of ocean surface chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla) by multiple ocean color satellite sensors (SeaWiFS, MODIS-Terra, MODIS-Aqua, MERIS, VIIRS) using standard algorithms were evaluated in the California Current using a large archive of in s...
Characterizing temperature and salinity (T-S) conditions is a standard framework in oceanography to identify and describe deep water masses and their dynamics. At the surface, this practice is hindered by multiple air–sea–land processes i...
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose increasing threats to marine ecosystems and fisheries worldwide, creating an urgent need for efficient wide-area monitoring schemes. Satellite remote sensing offers a promising approach. However, quantitative, real-ti...
This study proposes a method to detect ocean fronts from in situ temperature and density glider measurements. This method is applied to data collected along the CalCOFI Line 90, south of the California Current System (CCS), over the 2006–2013 p...
The olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina, is a newly invasive species to California with the potential to become an economical pest if it reaches the olive production regions of California’s Central Valley. Here, we report on surveys undertaken in...
The assumption of stationarity in historical hydroclimatic data, fundamental to traditional water resource planning models, is increasingly challenged by the impacts of climate change. This discrepancy can lead to inaccurate model outputs and misinfo...
We analyzed individual growth and body mass allometry of the temperate stock of Sardinops sagax from samples collected on commercial fleet during 2005 to 2014 in the southern California Current System. Ages were estimated on otolith growth ring readi...
Species distribution models are now widely used in conservation and management to predict suitable habitat for protected marine species. The primary sources of dynamic habitat data have been in situ and remotely sensed oceanic variables (both are con...
Combustible decks are identified as vulnerable components of buildings in wildfire-prone areas. In California, combustible deck boards can comply with the requirements of Chapter 7A of the California Building Code if they pass an under-deck flame-imp...
We analyzed the peak spring tidal current speeds, annual mean tidal power densities (
Research on the trophic transfer of trace elements in food chains, particularly toxic elements like mercury (Hg) and essential elements like selenium (Se), is crucial for understanding their impact on human health. In this work, we assessed the trans...
Tidal renewable energy is a promising alternative energy resource, and marginal seas are known as excellent sites for tidal energy exploitation. In-stream and tidal energy devices are less exposed to extreme weather events than wind energy. Neverthel...
In this study, we report the response of phytoplankton community composition to cold and warm interannual events affecting the waters off the Baja California Peninsula from 2007 to 2016 based on data obtained from a single marine station (31.75°...
Sea surface salinity (SSS) is a key variable for ocean–atmosphere interactions and the water cycle. Due to its climatic importance, increasing efforts have been made for its global in situ observation, and dedicated satellite missions have been launc...
The influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on productivity at upwelling systems has been extensively studied. However, in recent decades, ENSO diversity has been documented; there are more frequent events with anomalies in the...
California is a global leader in the agricultural sector and produces more than 400 types of commodities. The state produces over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Despite being highly productive, current and...
California has unsustainable use of agricultural water and energy, as well as problems of severe drought, nitrate pollution and groundwater salinity. As the leading producer and exporter of agricultural produce in the United States, 5.6 percent of Ca...
The current analysis attempts to quantify the interlinkages between the water, energy and food sectors of California covering the period 2002–2015. The results reveal that 25% (60,696 GWh) of the annual energy consumption is attributed to agric...
As states within the United States respond to future grid development goals, there is a growing demand for reliable and resilient nighttime generation that can be addressed by low-cost, long-duration energy storage solutions. This report studies the...
26 February 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid and innovative policymaking around the world at the national, regional, and local levels. There has been limited work to systematically document and characterize new and expanded local U.S. pandemic-era policies,...
Damages caused by wildfires in California due to transmission line failures have increased significantly in recent years. Curtailment of electric service in areas under fire threat has been implemented to avoid these wildfires. Results from this rese...
Municipalities often face increasing demand for limited water supplies with few available alternative sources. Under some circumstances, bulk water transport may offer a viable alternative. This case study documents a hypothetical transfer between a...
The current California drought has reduced freshwater availability, creating tensions between water users across the state. Although over 518 million m
Southern California-Edison (SCE) currently operates the largest fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in North America. SCE’s EV experiences began in 1987 with prototype and electric conversions, such as the Conceptor G-Van, the Pentastar TEVan, and U.S.E...
14 July 2020
Given the lack of progress in breast cancer prevention, the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) plans to apply current scientific knowledge about breast cancer to primary prevention at the population level. This paper describes the firs...
X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is caused by gene variants in the ABCD1 gene, resulting in a varied clinical spectrum. Males with ALD present with symptoms ranging from isolated adrenal insufficiency and slowly progressive myelopathy to severe ce...
15 April 2011
The numbers of reported cases of coccidioidomycosis in Arizona and California have risen dramatically over the past decade, with a 97.8% and 91.1% increase in incidence rates from 2001 to 2006 in the two states, respectively. Of those cases with repo...
California is facing a critical water supply and water quality crisis, necessitating a clear shift in the way water resources are managed. This study assesses the effectiveness of water law and policy in the urban-agricultural interface, where the tw...
In seasonally dry environments, the amount of water held in living plant tissue—live fuel moisture (LFM)—is central to vegetation flammability. LFM-driven changes in wildfire size and frequency are particularly important throughout southe...
Climate change will challenge California agriculture, requiring producers (i.e., farmers and ranchers) to adopt climate-adaptive management practices to sustain production. Agricultural technical assistance providers (TAPs) play a significant role in...
Automobiles are a major source of CO2 emissions. Because there is no immediate technological fix to reduce these emissions, the most promising current strategy is to promote less automobile use. In the United States, this is difficult because federal...
Santa Catalina Island, located off the southern California coast, is home to the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), which is recognized as a marine protected area. Here, we provide an updated species inventory of nearshore mac...
Sweetpotatoes are a major crop in California, ranking sixth in value among organic commodities in the state. In recent years, there has been growing consumer interest in diverse specialty varieties, particularly purple types and those associated with...
Background: California hare coltivirus (CHCV) was isolated in California in 1976 from a hare. Despite its long history, it remained unclear whether CHCV was exclusively distributed in California with limited host ranges. Main body: By next-generation...
Construction of new seawater reverse osmosis desalination (SWRO) plants in the state of California (USA) requires environmental permits containing rather strict conditions. The California Ocean Plan requires the use of subsurface intake systems (SSIs...
Over the past century, scientific understanding of prescribed burns in California’s forests transitioned from being interpreted as ecologically harmful to highly beneficial. The state’s prescribed burn policies mirrored this evolution. Ha...
In contrast to most other Drosophila species that infest processing (overripe) strawberries, the spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) can also infest firm and ripe fruit intended for the fresh market. However, fresh fruit infestations of this invasive speci...
Data from NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission (SMAP) and from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) were used to examine the freshening that occurred during 2015–2016 in the Southern California Curr...
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from arid irrigated agricultural soil in California have been predicted to represent 8% of the state’s total GHG emissions. Although specialty crops compose the majority of the state’s crops in both economic...
Universal school meals (USM) have the potential to increase access to healthy food for millions of U.S. students. This study evaluated school food authorities’ (SFA) perspectives of federal USM in response to COVID-19 (school year (SY) 2021&nda...
Coastal upwelling regions are one of the most dynamic areas of the world’s oceans. The California and Baja California Coasts are impacted by both coastal upwelling and the California Current, leading to frontal activity that is captured by grad...
The bighorn sheep in Mexico is classified as at-risk by the Mexican federal government. In the state of Baja California, wild sheep can be observed throughout the length of the state from the USA–Mexico border south to the Agua de Soda mountain...
On 10 March 1933, an earthquake of roughly 6.4 on the Richter scale (retrospectively estimated) hit the City of Long Beach, California, and the counties surrounding it. Seismically, the quake was of moderate magnitude. However, to this day it remains...
This article reviews the Volvo Low-Impact Heavy Green Transport Solution (LIGHTS) project, a multifaceted public–private partnership in Southern California, and provides some early insights and a model for successful fleet adoption of Class 8 battery...
In May 2018, an outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease (vND) affected backyard and commercial premises in Southern California. The re-occurrence of these outbreaks since the 1970s suggests that some poultry communities may not have reliable and stabl...
Offshore wind (OSW) technology has recently been included in California’s plans to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. As an emerging technology, many features of OSW are changing more rapidly than established renewable options and ar...
As California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard continues to phase power production from fossil fuels, carbon neutral sources will need to be implemented. This sets small-scale wind production and battery storage in a position to integrate into c...
The design of environmentally-friendly buildings relies on the work of interdisciplinary teams who have to look at problems in a holistic way. Teams need to communicate, collaborate, and make decisions not solely based on first cost considerations. F...
California currently produces about a quarter of the world’s pistachios. Pistachio nuts are susceptible to feeding by stink bugs and leaffooted bugs; therefore, the invasive presence of the highly polyphagous brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomo...
Over half of California’s forestland is managed by the US Forest Service, and the agency has identified a need to scale up forest restoration treatments in the state to one million acres per year by 2025. However, the high costs of mechanical fuel re...
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